Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Thieving Fox

“Thief?!”

Ling Xiaolei’s eyes widened in shock, clutching the book tightly in her arms.

Hei Yu grinned mischievously and purposely tried to frighten her, “So you’re a thief, huh? And so bold about it, too! Daring to sneak into the Magic Academy to steal—aren’t you afraid of getting caught and handed over to the dean?”

As he spoke, he assumed a menacing pose, ready to apprehend her.

“Hmph!”

The little fox grew more anxious upon hearing this, pursed her lips, and stamped her foot.

“I am not a thief! This book belonged to my master in the first place! I’m taking it back—not stealing it, returning it—to give it back to my master!”

Hei Yu chuckled, “You can hardly protect yourself, yet you’re thinking of stealing things? I’ll catch you first!” With that, he conjured a hellish trident, while Ling Xiaolei spread her sensory web, chains of restraint poised to strike.

The little fox’s face darkened in anger.

“You think you can catch me so easily? Think again!” She darted aside at lightning speed and vanished from their sight.

“She’s fast!”

Hei Yu barely caught a glimpse of her movements before she appeared next to him, swift as a bolt of lightning.

In two quick motions, she snatched the books from both Hei Yu and Ling Xiaolei.

“Ah! My book!” Ling Xiaolei cried out.

“Never underestimate the demon race…”

The little fox leapt nimbly onto the rooftop, dashed a few steps, and bounded over the courtyard wall.

Ling Xiaolei, unwilling to let her book be stolen, chased after her without hesitation.

“Stop! Thief!”

Hei Yu vaulted onto the roof, catching sight of the fox demon sprinting along the path beside the academy. Coincidentally, Yi Xin was walking there, probably just returning from the forest outside.

“Yi Xin! Catch the thief!” Hei Yu shouted.

“What?” Yi Xin halted, seeing Hei Yu’s anxious expression. The little fox had already sped past him.

“Useless!” Hei Yu, having scaled the wall and landed on the ground, decided it was best to pursue her himself.

“Catch a thief?” Yi Xin stood bewildered as Hei Yu and Ling Xiaolei rushed past him.

The fox demon leapt and darted, bounding onto rooftops, slipping into alleyways, and soon the group had chased her halfway down the street.

Ling Xiaolei, gasping for breath, slowed down, while Hei Yu, faster, kept up the pursuit.

“Hei Yu… I’ll leave it to you…” Ling Xiaolei wheezed, halting atop a roof. “Please… get my book back…”

Yi Xin also arrived from afar, leaping onto the rooftop. “A thief in the academy? Which way did she go?”

Ling Xiaolei pointed him in the right direction.

The little fox’s speed did not waver; she moved on all fours, her bushy tail balancing her as she skillfully bounded over rooftops, leaping across ever-wider gaps between buildings.

Hei Yu gave relentless chase, and finally, at the edge of the last building, he saw the moon’s radiance illuminating the night sky.

“Stop!”

He called out while pausing at the high building’s edge. The momentum nearly sent him over; below was a yawning abyss, wind howling in the darkness.

Yet the fox demon leapt forward, crossing the vast distance to the top of a towering spire. Hei Yu knew he could never cover that gap without unfurling his wings.

Above the tower stood two other figures clad in black. One stood sideways, watching Hei Yu; the other stood atop the spire’s peak, facing the moonlight, his tall silhouette lonely and proud, black hair streaming in the wind. The full moon behind them outlined their cold features.

“Master, master, look what I found!”

The fox demon, apparently acquainted with the two, greeted them with a playful whine as she reached them.

These two were identical to the black-robed men Hei Yu had encountered near the academy’s forest. Though their faces were hidden beneath hoods, Hei Yu was certain the one standing sideways was Ling Xi.

The fox demon offered the book as if it were a treasure, holding it reverently in both hands. The man atop the tower took it, rolled the book, and tapped it lightly on the little fox’s head. His cold voice carried a hint of gentleness.

“And what trouble have you gotten into this time?”

“Fox didn’t! Fox didn’t cause any trouble!” The little fox pouted, clearly indignant.

Ling Xi’s clear voice laughed, “I heard people shouting ‘catch the thief.’”

“Hmph!” she huffed, “It was ours to begin with! I just took it back—how is that stealing?”

“Ling… Boss Ling…” Hei Yu muttered.

At that moment, Ling Xiaolei and Yi Xin arrived, standing behind Hei Yu.

Ling Xi’s expression changed subtly upon seeing Yi Xin. His tone shifted from playful to icy reproach.

“If you don’t leave now, things will get troublesome. Fox, you’d better reflect on the chaos you’ve caused.”

He glanced at Hei Yu, warning him, “We’re leaving. Don’t follow us.”

“Wait! Return my book!” Ling Xiaolei, not understanding what was happening, shouted into the air.

The little fox made faces at Hei Yu and the others.

Hei Yu stretched his arms to block those behind him, keeping Ling Xiaolei to his left. Suddenly, a scorching pain shot through his right arm, startling him.

Yi Xin shoved his arm aside and strode forward, flames roaring from his body, murderous intent burning in his eyes.

“It’s really become troublesome now,” Ling Xi said with a half-smile, his gaze growing cold as he looked down.

Yi Xin glared fiercely at the black-clad man atop the tower, itching to leap up and punch him. His fiery fists clenched so tightly they cracked, and through gritted teeth, he spat out two words:

“Yi Feng…”

Ling Xiaolei and Hei Yu were dumbfounded.

Hei Yu had never expected the true identity of this black-robed man to be Yi Feng, the long-lost eldest son of the Chiyan family, the master of both “The Trinity of Worlds” and “Dark Curse Space.” Everything was suddenly clear.

Hei Yu dared not speak further; he knew Yi Xin harbored deep hatred toward this “big brother.”

Ling Xiaolei was equally shocked, almost unwilling to believe it. Was the cold and mysterious man before her truly the owner of the “Blue Bookmark”?

The man atop the tower turned, an icy smile on his lips. He removed the hood of his magical robe, revealing a handsome face strikingly similar to Yi Xin’s. Yet his features were sharper, marked by a calm that saw through everything.

His night-black hair flowed behind him, his eyes deep as the abyss. His low, emotionless voice cut through the silence:

“It’s been a while, little brother.”

Yi Xin, hearing these words, grew even more furious; the flames on his body seemed to reach their peak, the fire dancing wildly in the wind.